dental ethics

Etymology: L, dens, tooth; Gk, ethos, ethics

a system of moral principles governing the professional conduct of dental and
dental hygienic practices.
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.

ethics (eth´iks),
n 1. the science of moral obligation; a system of moral principles, quality, or
practice.
n 2. the moral obligation to render to the patient the best possible quality of dental
service and to maintain an honest relationship with other members of the
profession and mankind in general.
ethics, dental,
n See ethics, professional.
ethics, professional,
n the principles and norms of proper professional conduct concerning the rights
and duties of health care professionals themselves and their conduct toward
patients and fellow practitioners, including the actions taken in the care of patients
and family members.
Mosby's Dental Dictionary, 2nd edition. © 2008 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
–adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right
conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral
attitudes.
 Be a Professional

Your charge as a dentist is to be a professional. If you are going to call yourself a

professional, if you want to be recognized as a professional, and if you want to be
a professional, then you must conduct yourself as one. Otherwise you run the risk
of assuming the title without accepting the obligations.

On receiving your degree in dentistry, you officially became a participant in a

profession. Do not assume that a participant is necessarily a professional. Strive to
become a dental professional in the truest sense of the term. What does this really
mean? A professional respects patients for their unique needs and values. A
professional places patients' interests first and foremost, with only rare, legitimate
exceptions. A professional always considers patients' values and relevant personal
preferences. A professional has integrity. A professional is honest. A professional is
competent. A professional strives to improve personally and to effect improvement
in the profession. A professional actively supports professional organizations. A
professional is concerned about conduct and perceptions of conduct. A professional
is ethical.

The term "professional," as used in this course, refers to one who practices a
learned profession, i.e., one who has special knowledge and skills used to benefit
the public, regardless of personal gain. This separates the learned professions from
those self-proclaimed "professions" that essentially exchange goods and services.

Becoming a professional is a lifelong process of consistent behavior affirming the

principles of your beliefs. Your conduct in a professional capacity ultimately
establishes your status as a professional. Strive to be a true professional, and by so
doing, make a significant contribution to dentistry, society, and most importantly, the
patients you serve.

Are you a professional?

The Professional and . . .

Citizenship

The essence of every health profession is service above self. The dentist's primary
obligation is service to the patient. Dentists have an obligation to use their
knowledge, skills, and experience to improve the oral health of the public. Dentists
also have the obligation to keep their knowledge and skills current.

The professional person—the dentist—has a broad responsibility to the community

in which he or she chooses to practice.

First, the dentist must provide patients the best service of which he or she is
capable. This responsibility is one of the cardinal principles of a health service.
"Good enough" is not good enough. It must be the "very best" service under the